Mentally ill teens will no longer be held in police cells

Theresa May is to publish a review of sections of the Mental Health ActFacundo Arrizabalaga/ EPA

Theresa May will put an end to the scandal of holding mentally ill teenagers in police cells, in a move that risks accusations she is stealing the thunder of a rival for the Tory leadership.

On Thursday the home secretary will publish a review of sections of the Mental Health Act, under which police can section someone in mental distress and take them to a hospital or police station.

It will conclude that children and young people should never be taken to police cells when suffering from a mental illness and that adults should only be detained by police when their behaviour is so extreme that it cannot be managed elsewhere.